Stake for cars



M.'MARKKULA..

STAKE FQR- CARS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1920.

Patented July 20, 1920.

UNITE STARS PAENT FFICE',

MATT MARKKULA, or roar BRAGG, CALIFORNIA..-

vS'JJAIKE FOR CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pat ui d J l 29 192% Application filed. April 7, 1920. Serial No. 371,967.

State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stakes for Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stakes for flat cars, and has particular reference to such devices adapted to retain logs, spars, or the like in place upon the car.

An important object of the invention is to prevent the stakes of the flat car from falling inwardly when the load of the car is shifted by rocking thereof. \Vhen cars are loaded with logs and spars, particularly at logging camps, the load is held in place by stakes which are tightened against the sides of the load by means of chains or the like. Tightening of the chains sufliciently is difficult in that, as the chains are crossed, when they become tightened, the links of one chain interfere with those of the other and render the tightening extremely difficult. This results often in slack chains holding the stakes in position with the re sult that when the car passes about a curve or over uneven trackage, which is common in logging districts, the load shifts to one side or the other of the car, and if this shift'is sufficient, the stakes upon the opposite side of the car fall inwardly. WVhile both stakes seldom fall inwardly at the same time, if but one of these stakes falls in, it will allow the logs to spread at that end of the car and project outwardly to contact objects upon that side of the right of way. Furthermore, occasionally both stakes fall inwardly, allowing the logs to roll from the car and have resulted at times in wreckage of one or more of the following cars.

A further object is to provide means-for tightening the chains of stakes of flat cars, wherein the parts of the tightening means which cross are formed in such manner as to prevent excessive friction therebctween, thereby allowing the stakes to be more completely tightened against the logs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and 1n which like parts throughout the same,

v. rigure l 18 21 plan View ofapparatus embodying my invention,

F1g. 2 1s a section taken on line 22 of Fig.1, 1 i 1 1g, 3 is an end elevation of the" apparatus with the latch plate in thelower position, and,

Fig. 1s a similar view with the latch plate raised. I i

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose numerals are employed to designate like of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates the side $1115 of the ordinary flat car. Arranged upon and secured to these side sills, preferably near each end thereof, is a i which may be pair of transverse bolsters 6, in the form ofbeams. These bolsters are spaced providing a passage 7, as clearly shown in Fig.1. l

Arranged between the bolsters 6 are vertically swinging stakes 8. Each stake is provided at its lower end with an opening for the reception of a pivot element or pin 9, adapted for insertion Within selected pair of spaced openings 10. It is thus apparent that the stakes 8 are pivotally connected with and between the bolsters 6 and are adapted to be longitudinally adjusted with relation to the bolsters for receiving therebetween loads of different kinds.

Each stake 8, near or upon'one side of the car, is connected near its upper end, as at 11,

with a flexible element or chain 12. A con- 7 necting bar 13 is provided'upon its ends with eyes 14 and 15. The free end of the chain 12 is connected in the eye 14 of the connecting bar 13. To the opposite end of the connecting bar 13 and in the eye 15 thereof, is connected a second length of chain 16. Each chain 16 extends through an'opening 17 in a base plate 18, vertically arranged and secured to the sill 5, adjacent the ends of the bolsters 6, the openings of the base plates being alined with the spaces 7, formed between the bolsters 6. Pivoted to the base plate 18, as shown at 19, is a latch 20, having an opening or not-ch21, adapted to receive the vertical links of the chain 16 to prevent the passage of the horizontal links therethrough. it is thus seen that when the latch 20 is swung downwardly, as shown in Fig.3, its notch 21 will receive avertical link of the chain 16, thereby positively locking the free end of the latch 20 is bent outwardly to provide an extension 22, which may be struck with a hammer or the like to move the latch 20 to the open or closed position.

Secured to the outer faces of the vertically swinging stakes 8, as at 23, are chains 24 having their free ends passed below the pivot point of the stake, and secured to the eyes 14:, of the connecting bars 13, to which the chains-12 of the stakes are secured. By

7 inspection of Fig. 2, it will be seen that these chains 24; will effectually prevent the stakes 8 from falling inwardly but'will allow of their being tightened sufliciently to prevent movement of the logs upon the car.

In tightening the stakes upon the car, it will be obvious that the connecting members 13 will present extremely small faces to one another and that these faces have no ofi's'ets causing extreme friction, as is the case where two chains are crossed, and consequently the stakes 8 may be much more effieiently tightened than in a similar apparatus wherein such connecting members are not provided.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as 'apreterred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape; size, and arrangement oi parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus of the type described, a pair ofvertically swinging stakes arranged upon opposite sides of the car and pi otally connected thereto, a pair or oppositely extending connecting elements, flexible members connecting the inner and outer sides of each of said swinging stakes with the adjacent end of the corresponding connecting element, and means 'for adjustably positioning said connecting elements.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a pair of vertically swinging stakes arranged upon opposite sides of the car and pivotally connected thereto, flexible ele ments secured to the stakes upon the inner sides thereof, bars secured to said flexible elements, and means for adjustably positioning said bars.

3. In apparatus 'of the character described, a pair of vertically swinging stakes arranged upon opposite sides of the car and pivotally connected thereto, flexible elements secured to the stakes upon the inner sides thereof, bars secured to said flexible elements, and flexible elements secured to said bars and passing beneath the pivot point of the corresponding stake and secured to the outer face thereof. 7

4-. In apparatus of. the character described, a pair of vertically swinging stakes arranged upon opposite sides of the car and pivotally connected thereto, flexible elements secured to the stakes upon the inner sides thereof, bars secured to said flexible elements, and means for adjustably positioning said bars, comprising base plates secured to the sides of the car and provided with openings, chains secured tothe free ends of said bars and passing through said openings, and latches pivoted to said base plates and having notches-to receive the links of the chains. 7

5. In apparatus of the type described, a pair of vertically swinging stakes arranged upon opposite sides of the car and pivotally connected thereto, a pair of oppositely extenging connecting elements, flexible members connecting the inner and outer sides of each of said swinging stakes with. the ad jacent end of thecorresponding connecting element, and means foradjustably positionins; saidconnecting elements, the flexible elementsconnecting the outer sides or said swinging stakes with their respective connecting elements passing below the pivots of said stakes.

J. A. PETTIS. 

